Dental bridge.



M. L IFSHITZ.

DENTAL BRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. ms.

INVEN TOR.

Patented J uly 10, 1917.

illFlF@.

MAX LIFSI-IITZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DENTAL BRIDGE.

Application filed March 10, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX Lrrsnrrz, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to means for anchoring artificial teeth to natural ones that are still remaining in the jaw, and in a more restricted sense appertains to dental bridge-work of removable type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved dental anchorage of the type aforesaid, devised in accordance with a simple, rational. mode of construction, which involves no intricate arrangement of parts, nor unnecessary weakening of the natural denture.

A subsidiary object is the provision of an anchorage adapted to hold the artificial denture firmly in the upper as well as in the lower jaw by plain flexural apposition, in such a manner that, although admitting of being detached, it will neither drop off nor become displaced owing to its weight or by reason of pressure exerted on it during the process of mastication.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists of matters hereinafter set forth in detail and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

Referring to the drawing hereto annexed, for a detailed descriptionv of the invention, in its preferred embodiment;

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the applicability of this improved anchorage to artificial dentures provided in both the upper and the lower jaws;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation, showing one jaw with a gap to be filled and an artificial denture thereabove, detached to expose part of the anchoring means;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the construction represented in the preceding figure, the denture appearing in dotted lines only;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line H of Fig. 3, looking upward in the direction indicated by the arrows at the sides of the latter-named view;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a saddle or bridge-piece connected with the anchor- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 191?.

Serial No. 83,276.

ing part of the artificial denture, as seen from the right along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and the natural tooth next adjoining, to which the same end of the denture is anchored; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line 77 of Fig. 3, illustrating the anchorage at the other end of the said artificial denture.

In these views, the numeral 11 represents an alveolar process, having a gap 12, to be filled with an artificial denture. The latter, as usual, may consist of ivory or porcelain crowns 13, secured in close juxtaposition along the median plane of a bridge or saddle 14, adapted for attachment at its opposite ends to the natural teeth left in the jaw on each side of the gap 12. Thus, for instance, the saddle 14: may be attached to a canine or bicuspid tooth 15, at one end, and to a molar 16, at the other end. By preference, the saddle is made of gutta-percha and colored like the gum, upon which it is seated within the gap in the j awbone, but it could be made of gold or other suitable material, at the option of the wearer.

Briefly described, the anchoring means for the artificial denture aforesaid include crowns 20 and 21, respectively placed on the natural teeth 15 and 16 above mentioned; posts 22 and 23, formed with these crowns, one to each; and sockets 24; and 25, provided at the opposite ends of the saddle and positioned so as to engage the said posts.

The crowns 20 and 21 are neatly made of gold, or of some alloy or other appropriate compositiomas dictated by the wearers fancy or financial standing. As shown, the crowns may cover the natural teeth entirely,but they would subserve the ends of the present invention with substantially equal benefit, were they made simply to surround the teeth and leave the tops thereof uncovered. No restriction of the invention is contemplated, therefore, in that respect, as any suitable anchoring means may be employed.

Preferably, the posts 22, 23 are made of same material as the crowns 20, 21 and integral therewith, though it is conceived that they could well be of a difi'erent substance and formed separate. These posts are located, one on each side of the gap 12, next to their respective crowns, and need only have commensurate rigidity, howsoever obtained. Both posts extend, as seen in Figs.

2 3 and 4, from points near the tops of the crowns to the inner edges thereof, that is, as far as the ridge formed by that part of the gum or jaw-bone wherein occurs the gap to be filled.

The sockets 2-1, 25 consist, as shown, of small tubes fitted. in holes provided therefor in the saddle 1 1, one at or near each end. The tubes are approximately of same length as the posts 22, 23 and arranged to he slipped thereover, so as to engage them substantially in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 7. Each tube is preferably slotted, as at 26, on the exterior side thereof, (Fig. 5) to enable it to slide entirely over the corresponding post and permit a full connection between the latter and the adjoining crown, 20 or 21, such for instance as will be afforded by a connecting web 27. It is understood that the web 27 engages the slot 26, when either post, 22 or 23, enters its respective socket, 2 1 01 25.

It will be observed, by reference to Figs. 3, 6 and 7, that the posts 22 and 23 are inclined outwardly in opposite directions, they being staggered relatively to each other. In other words, they both diverge from the middle plane of the gap 12, and of the saddle 1 1 to be placed therein. This is done with the view of producing a tightening effect on the saddle, when it is lodged in the gap. For the same purpose, the saddle is formed with end wings 30 and 31, on one side, which are made to lap over the contiguous natural teeth 15 and 16, respectively. The' side carrying the wings, it will be noted, is made somewhat thinner than the other, to render it slightly flexible, so that either wing may be yieldingly pressed against the tooth overlapped thereby. Now, when the artificial denture is to be inserted in the gap to be filled, onerof the sockets in the saddle is slipped over the projecting end of the'corresponding post, for instance,

the socket 25 over the post 23, which acts as a pivotor fulcrum for the saddle from the moment the wing 31, nearer thereto, comes in lapping engagement with the natural tooth l6, or-crown 21. The other socket 2 1 is next swung to and slipped overthe proj ecting end of its most 22, with the wing30 of the saddle :projecting to one side of the natural tooth 15,'or crown 20. The denture then being pushed into the gap, it will be perceived that, as the socket 25 advances toward the base of the inclined post 23, it

causes the wing 31to bind upon the adjacentside'ofthe toothxlfi or crown 2'1, aided by "the socket 2 1 advancingtoward the base of'the reversely inclined post 22, the ends of the saddle being thereby forced, by; degrees,

laterally, in oppositedirections, :as the denture isdriven home. Thus, the denture is held by frictional engagement, and the tighter in proportion as it is pushed toward the gum or jaw-bone, so that any pressure that -may be exerted thereon during the process of mastication will serve to anchor it the more securely in the mouth, and it can be dislodged only by pulling it out the reverse way from which it was inserted. The centering line 32, in Figs. 6 and 7, indicates the desired slant or obliquity given to the several posts and sockets relatively to the median plane of the saddle or bridge, in order to effect the locking of the artificial denture in the manner hereinabove explained. It will be apparent that this means of fastening the denture involves no stress on the adjacent natural teeth whichwould tend to loosen them, which loosening of said adjacent teeth is a grave defect to be guarded against.

It will be noted that the posts 22 and 23 maybe inclined at angles other than those shown in the drawings in order to meet the necessities involved by the configuration of any particular jaw upon which they may be used. And it will be noted that the greater the angle, the more securely will the denture be locked. in place. V 1

It will also be noted that the crown-bearing member may be made of any desired proportions to meet the necessities of any particular case. For example, the denture may be made thinner or shorter than the embodiment illustrated in the drawing.

It will be seen that a denture constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention will carry out the objects of the invention besides possessing other advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. l i

In its broad aspect,-the invention is not restricted to theprecise forms and combinations of elements herein described and illustrated, since obviously many changes can be made therein without departing from the fundamental principle of the invention or sacrificingany of its chief advantages.

I claim I r i I V 1. A dentalanchorage including in combination, a crown-bearing member. adapted for insertion bet-ween natural teeth, fastening-means attached to the latter, and retainers, one of which is inclined in relation 'to another. engaging said member 'so as tosecurely hold it to said fastening means.

2. A dental anchoragecomprising, in combination, a flexible crownbearing member positioned between natural teetln-and retaining means for holding the former to the latter, including oppositelyv inclined posts adapted to engage said memberby flexure.

for insertion between natural teeth, abindinclined pivot adjacent to the tooth near 3. A dental-anchorage includingpincom bination, a crown-bearing member adapted said element upon which the member can be swung over to the farther tooth, and a retainer by the latter inclined oppositely to said pivot.

4. A dental anchorage including, in combination, a crownbearing member filling a gap between natural teeth, an extension ar- -anged to lap over one of said teeth sidewise from one end of said member, a fulcrum for the latter when the other end thereof is swung oppositely to said extension, and a retainer from said other end of the member to hold it in locked position.

5. A dental anchorage including, in combination, a crown-bearing member serving to fill a gap between natural teeth, fasteners engaging said teeth having oppositely inclined posts with intermediate digit connections, and sockets in said member adapted for engagement with both the inclined posts and said connections.

6. A dental anchorage including, in combination, a crown-bearing member designed for insertion between natural teeth, wings adapted to project on opposite sides of said. teeth from both ends of said member, and a. pair of posts acting as retainers for the member conjointly with its wings, one 01' said posts being inclined relatively to the other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MAX LIFSHITZ. [1,. 8.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

